Deploying Your Express.js App on AWS EC2 with NGINX and a Custom Domain A Professional Guide

aws ec2 express.js ssh nginx

Deploying your web application can be a daunting task, but with AWS EC2, NGINX, and a custom domain, you can achieve a robust and scalable deployment. This guide will walk you through the entire process step by step.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

An AWS account
A registered domain name
Node.js and NPM installed locally
Basic knowledge of SSH and the terminal

Step 1: Setting Up Your AWS EC2 Instance

Launch an EC2 Instance:
- Log in to your AWS Management Console.
- Navigate to EC2 Dashboard and click "Launch Instance".
- Choose an Amazon Machine Image (AMI). We recommend the latest Ubuntu Server AMI.
- Select an instance type. The t2.micro is a good starting point as it is part of the free tier.
- Configure instance details and add storage as needed.
- Add a tag (e.g., Name: MyExpressApp).
- Configure the security group. Allow HTTP (port 80) and SSH (port 22) traffic.
Connect to Your Instance:
- Once your instance is running, click on "Connect".
- Use SSH to connect to your instance:
```
ssh -i /path/to/your-key-pair.pem ubuntu@your-ec2-public-dns
```

Step 2: Setting Up Node.js on EC2

Update your package lists:
```
sudo apt update
```
Install Node.js and NPM:
```
sudo apt install nodejs npm -y
```
Verify the installation:
```
node -v
npm -v
```

Step 3: Deploying Your Express.js Application

Transfer your application to the EC2 instance:

You can use SCP to transfer files:

scp -i /path/to/your-key-pair.pem -r /path/to/your-app ubuntu@your-ec2-public-dns:/home/ubuntu

Install dependencies and start the application:
```
cd /home/ubuntu/your-app
npm install
node app.js
```
Replace app.js with the entry point of your application.

Step 4: Setting Up NGINX as a Reverse Proxy

Install NGINX:
```
sudo apt install nginx -y
```

Configure NGINX:

Open the default NGINX configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Replace the contents with the following:

server {
    listen 80;
 
    server_name your-domain.com;
 
    location / {
        proxy_pass <http://localhost:3000>;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}

Replace your-domain.com with your actual domain and ensure your Express.js app is running on port 3000.

Restart NGINX:
```
sudo systemctl restart nginx
```

Step 5: Setting Up Your Custom Domain

Configure DNS Settings:
- Go to your domain registrar's website and find the DNS settings.
- Add an A record pointing to your EC2 instance’s public IP address.
Verify the DNS Configuration:
- It might take a few minutes for DNS changes to propagate. You can use tools like dig or nslookup to verify your domain points to your EC2 instance.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Your Express.js application is now deployed on an AWS EC2 instance, served by NGINX, and accessible via your custom domain. This setup not only provides a professional and scalable solution but also leverages the power of AWS for reliable hosting.

Feel free to leave comments or questions if you need further assistance. Happy coding!